New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-23
CRAIG TOLLIVER KILLED.
ENDING THE CAREER OF A DESPERATE.

GNDlN0 1dE CAhEEh Of n DGST LhADOs
HIS FORCED ELECTION AS POLICE JUDGE BRINGS
ON THE CATAsTROPnE-sOME OF HIS AD-
HERENTs SHOT.
LOUISVILLE June 22.-Craig Tolliver, Jay Tolliver,
Bud Tollver and Cooper OF the famous outlaw band
that has ruled Rowan County with terror for three
months, were shot down to-day In the streets
OF Morehead, the county seat John RoEsrs
another Of the gang who In town at the rme
escaped with bullet in his thigh At the vgilsnos
and posse still In possession Of the town and were
hunting for John Day. Of Craig Tolivers deputies
who was believed to be hiding In the village
According to reports OF passengers just In on tho
Chcsapesks and Ohio train which came through More
head at to-day the attacking party claimed be
led by the sherhs of Elliot Carter and Toun countless
who were authorized by Governor Knott to summon q
posse and take Craig Tollver dead alive Yesterday
and the day before, Tolliver, recently chosen Police
Judge under fear. received notice by mall that armed
force would kill him unless he left the town. IL they had
to burn Morehoad TO do II.
At 1890 to-day hundred armed horsemen surrounded
the main village, OF dozen houses commanded the
women, children and peaceabe citizens to
como ont, and Tolivors crowd surrender
Thoy telegraph to stop the approaching
train at the next siding and hold tho other Tover In
stead OF surrendoring opened fire from the hoel The
fire was returned and tho fight became hot that the
besieged mon attempted to escape to the woods 1t was
only OF the posse hurt He is severely wounded As
II day OF Tolivers faction had gone to their
homes in the country.
The feud OF which todays tragedy grows began at
the August election in 1884, when Cook Humphrey
Rep.D for Sheriff defeated Sam Gooden Uem) by
a majority OF H. drunken fight occurred.
ia which John Martin badly hurt He claimed that
Floyd Tollivcr and John Day beat him with
clubs Shooting followed in which Solomon
Bradley, q bystander. killed, Tolliver said
by Martin. As result OF this fight, John Martin,
" Ben" his father, "Will" and " Dave" his brothers
and Cook Humphrey, who had lived with the
Martins when boy and to school at Morchead from
their farm. ranged side Marion, Craig
and Floyd Tolliver brothers, and bud" Jay
and Wiley Tolllver, cousins, living in Elliott
County the other side. In December John
= Nktin met Floyd Tolver In whiskey shop at More
head and killed him. To escape lynching Martin was
taken 20 Winchester Jail Six days later forged order
presented to the jacr and Martin in irons put
on the train TO return to Morehead for trial
At Farmers, an intervening station. a masked
mob boarded the train and riddled Martin
with bullets. Martins wife the train. not know
Ing him TO be thero and heard OF his murder only when
the train reached Morehead, where he dying when
sho reached him.
An effort was made by Sheriff Humphrey to ferret
out tho hurderers, and Stewart Baumgardner, his
deputy, was ono night shot to pieces
hundred on each side Early In 1883. T..
Young county attorney was shot from tho bushes
and badly wounded. He claimed TO belong TO
neither faction but hated by the Martins, and 1t
wa, believed was shot By them. few
months later ed" Pierce convicted of highway
robbery. mado confession that Cook Humphrey
had hired himself and Ben Rayburn at 81 day to watch
Young lie promised 81 so zach for his assassination,
and paid each 81 80 for shooting him. lie afterward
tracted the confession saying was eHtorted BY foungs
son, TO whom It was made.
on thls Craig Toivr. who had been elected
town marshal, and twenty friends sur
rounded ." Ben" Martins house, while all tho
Martins, except the mother and daughter, were
in Kansas. They know Humphrey and Raj burn were
RsyI Ssy es.:sea s9S the house ali day evening
syer ons of tho women had escaped to Morehead.
where she was thrown into jail by Tolliyers
friends, they forced Humphrey and Raybnrn to
N.Y. ": house, sa leaving tho woman in the woods In the ght
Cook Cool na%phTTsy ToverP poured face irSSiay Sat
troops were summoned and Cook Humphrey tried
Concealed cor WEAPONS Attorney Hardin prosecuted
the men County Attorney Young defended thsm but a
In January. 1886. the light was again renewed
The state troops wcre called .sa and nPel csmPed
peace was arranged by Circuit Judge Jackson and
Common wealth Attorney NOW Congressmanl Caruth,
%sre SSts TO caSc Rowan County
ago Tovcr returned had himself elected police Judge
pretor OF the Central Hotel and ha, since
kent the hotel him self lie ha, had hfty to hundred
OF his men In every night and kept
guard. few weeks aso he went
william Logan the other faction, and shot them to
death This brought tho nght OF to-day. He has
brother and many followers living and further boodshcd
Is feared. 49,
Another report that Sheriff Iogg, OF Rowan with
nosse OF I6O came 10 arrest TOlliyer for false
swearing Toliver shot twice through the head and
twice through tho body. Sheriff Hogg claims TO nave
gathered so large posse under instructions from Gov
ernor Knott TO arrest Tolner.